Gang Member Charged With Murder Of Greenlawn Teen: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - An MS-13 gang member was indicted on Friday for the murder of a Greenlawn teen in 2016, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.

Elmer Gilberto Santos Contreras, 23, is charged with second degree murder, the DA said.

He is a citizen of El Salvador whose last known address in New York was in Roosevelt, according to the DA. He is a self-admitted member of the MS-13 gang, the DA said.

In 2016, a man was walking near Greenlawn Park at the intersection of Pulaski Road and Broadway when he discovered the body of 18-year-old Estiven Abrego-Gomez’s body.

The man flagged down a passing motorist who called 911 and Suffolk County Police officers from the Second Precinct responded.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Abrego-Gomez’s cause of death to be sharp force injuries and blunt force trauma.

He was found with significant lacerations on his body. According to Sini, the injuries were severe and typical of MS-13 violence. Abrego-Gomez’s hands were nearly severed.

"The victim’s body was found in a park where many members of the Greenlawn community played, relaxed, and congregated, so this incident hit the Greenlawn community very hard," Sini said. "It is with great pleasure that law enforcement is able to announce today that we have solved this murder and those individuals who are responsible will be held accountable."

An extensive investigation by officials revealed evidence that Contreras allegedly ordered Abrego-Gomez’s murder after he was reportedly seen on social media flashing gang signs associated with the 18th Street gang, which is a rival gang of MS-13, the DA said.

"For the past two and a half years, the Suffolk County Police Department’s homicide detectives have relentlessly focused on finding justice for Estiven Abrego-Gomez and to hopefully provide some closure to his family,” Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. "We hope this apprehension brings peace for family, friends and members of the community who have been mourning the loss of this teen."

Contreras, who was being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Virginia awaiting deportation proceedings, was brought back to Suffolk County on March 28 by Suffolk detectives to face prosecution on the indictment, the DA said.

He was arraigned on the indictment by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas and was remanded without bail.

If convicted, Contreras faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

In addition, 23-year-old Anthony Gutierrez-Meza was charged with second degree murder for allegedly working with Contreras during the killing, the DA said.

Gutierrez-Meza’s last known address in New York was in Valley Stream. He is currently in police custody in Virginia and will be arraigned on the indictment at a later date.